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Readers familiar with Culp through his work in Horticulture magazine or appearances on HGTV will relish this opportunity to learn more about the layering technique he’s mastered at his two-acre Brandywine Cottage in Pennsylvania. Culp eloquently explains the design process he used to create his stunning garden, lush with plant combinations that provide a succession of peak garden moments throughout the year in his Zone 6 garden. Spellbinding writing and Carillo’s breathtaking photos entice readers through Culp’s woodland garden, large perennial border, kitchen garden, shrubbery, and walled garden. Along the way, Culp shares warm childhood memories and modestly relates why a Galanthus bears his name. With the passion of a plant collector and a wordsmith, he ends the book by describing signature plants for all four seasons, recommending some of his favorite gardening books, and sharing his optimistic attitude on beauty. VERDICT In the tradition of classics like Beverly Nichols’s Merry Hall, this is a marvelous account of how one gardener created his garden and a sense of place. It’s an essential title in the “how I did it” genre of garden writing.—Bonnie Poquette, Whitefish Bay, WI

Some memoirs are heartbreaking and some are hilarious, but very few manage to balance absurdity and honesty as does this title. Writer and artist Levy finds her dual diagnoses of Parkinson’s disease and breast cancer wickedly funny and this book is just that. Readers will follow her as she cracks jokes at her doctors, draws strength from her family and friends, and fantasizes about her dentist neighbor flossing her teeth for her. Levy draws strength and tenacity from her ability to laugh at her calamities, and she will inspire readers to see the fiercely funny in their own tragedies. Anyone faced with uncertainty and struggle in the face of a life-changing disease, personal crisis, or just a bad day will find strength in Levy’s words. ­VERDICT This memoir is proof of the power of the human spirit. By finding joy in the face of the worst circumstances, Levy shows that “what doesn’t kill you makes you stranger” and stronger. Enthusiastically recommended.—Julia A. Watson, Marywood Univ. Lib., Scranton, PA

From Asian carp in the Midwest to green iguanas in the Florida Keys to nutria in Louisiana, invasive species cause very real, possibly irreversible damage to their environments every day. Scientists and government agencies have been at a loss for how to stop them, but Landers (The Beginner’s Guide to Hunting Deer for Food) has a plan: create a demand for them as food, then eat them until they’re under control. It’s not such a crazy idea; as he points out, humans have hunted plenty of species into extinction (the passenger pigeon, for example). Moreover, many of the invaders are delicious. Lionfish taste like Chilean sea bass and the feral hogs tearing up great swathes of the South are nothing less than free-range pork. The book chronicles the 16 months Landers spent traveling around the United States hunting and eating invasive species, often in the company of colorful characters. VERDICT Part travelog, part conservation treatise, this is a terrific read and an effective call to arms. Readers may or may not come away wanting to hunt, but they’ll almost certainly be curious to try some of the fare described within.—­Stephanie Klose, Library Journal

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The following titles are reviewed in the August print issue. Visit Book Verdict for the full reviews.